Mount McKinley's Alaska Name Denali Is Restored By Obama
After decades of controversy, the name of Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, has been changed back to its original native Alaskan, Denali. The 20,237ft (6,168m) peak was named by a gold prospector in 1896 after he heard that William McKinley had been nominated to become the US president. US President Barack Obama announced the change ahead of a three-day visit to Alaska to highlight climate change. But Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner has denounced the move. The new name Denali translates as High One or Great One and is used widely by locals. "With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," US Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement announcing the change. The statement went on to note that McKinley had never set foot in Alaska. Image caption The mountain was named in hono...